C
A new age is coming. Call it what you will: the service economy, the information age, the knowledge society. It all translates to a fundamental change in the way we work. Already we’re partly there, the percentage of people who earn their living by making things has fallen dramatically in the Western World. Today the majority of jobs in America, Europe and Japan are in the service industry, and the number is on the rise. More women are in the work force than ever before. There are more part-time jobs. More people are self-employed. But the range of the economic transformation can’t be measured by numbers alone, because it also is giving rise to important new way of thinking about the nature of work itself. Long-held ideas about jobs and careers, the skills needed to succeed, even the relation between individuals and employers — all these are being challenged.
We have only to look behind us to get some sense of what may lie ahead. No one looking ahead 20 years possibly could have foreseen the ways in which a single invention, the chip, would transform our world thanks to its applications in personal computers, digital communications and factory robots. Tomorrow’s achievements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or even some still unimagined technology could produce a similar wave of dramatic changes. But one thing is certain: information and knowledge will become even more valid, and the people who possess it, whether they work in manufacturing or services, will have the advantage and produce the wealth. Computer knowledge will become as basic a requirement as the ability to read and write. The ability to solve problems by applying information instead of performing routine tasks will be valued above all else. If you cast your mind ahead 10 years, information service will be superior. It will be the way you do your job.
66. A characteristic of the new age mentioned in the passage is that        .
A. the service industry mainly relies on females
B. manufacturing industries are steadily increasing
C. more people are in the service industry than before
D. the work in the service industry is more comfortable than that in manufacturing industry
67. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. People’s traditional concepts about jobs need changing.
B. The relation between employees and employers is becoming tense.
C. More women than men are in the work force.
D. Part-time jobs are more welcome than full-time jobs.
68. By mentioning the invention of “the chip”, the author means to say that       .
A. we haven’t paid enough attention to the importance of high technology
B. the chip is the most important invention today
C. the power of science and technology is beyond our imagination
D. it’s a great challenge to apply new inventions to our life
69. We may draw a conclusion from the passage that        .
A. information will play a greater role in people’s work and daily life in the future
B. we can foresee the future if technology develops fast enough
C. the ability of performing routine tasks gives you an advantage in work
D. robots will replace people to do all the work both in manufacturing and service industries
70. The author’s attitude to the coming age is        .
A. doubtful         B. enthusiastic           C. satisfied        D. Uncertain


C
A villa (别墅) designed to resist earthquakes with “self-healing” cracks in its walls, thanks to nanotechnology (纳米技术) applications with self-healing polymers (聚合物), is to be built on a Greek mountainside. The villa’s walls will include special particles that turn into a liquid when squeezed (压榨) under pressure, flow into cracks, and then harden to form a solid material.
The NanoManufacturing Institute (NMI), based in Leeds University, will play a key role in an EU project to construct the home by December 2010. The project, called “Intelligent Safe and Secure Buildings” (ISSB) is funded under the EU’s Sixth Framework program. This potentially life-saving scheme is led by German building manufacturer Knauf. The villa will be built in Amphilochia, in western Greece, where Knauf currently runs a manufacturing plant. If the experiment is successful, more tremor-resistant(防震)homes could be built in earthquake zones across the globe. NMI chief executive Professor Terry Wilkins said, “What we’re trying to achieve here is very exciting. We’re looking to use polymers in much tougher situations than ever before on a larger scale.” Monitors contained in the villa’s walls will be able to collect vast amounts of data about the building over time. Wireless sensors will record any stresses and vibrations, as well as temperature, humidity and gas levels.
The walls are to be built from new load-bearing steel frames and high-strength gypsum(石膏)board. Prof Wilkins said, “If there are any problems, the intelligent sensor network will be able to alert residents immediately so they have time to escape.” If whole groups of houses are so constructed, we could use a larger network of sensors to get even more information. “If the house falls down, we have got hand-held devices that can be used over the rubble to pick out where the embedded(嵌入的)sensors are hidden to get some information about how the villa collapsed.” Also, we can get information about anyone who may be around, so it potentially becomes a tool for rescue.
66. The aim of the passage is to ________.
A. report a piece of interesting news                   B. promote tremor-resistant homes
C. inform us of the nanotechnology development D. tell us about a tremor-resistant home
67. The villa can resist earthquakes because _______.
A. it will be built on a special place
B. the cracks in its walls can be healed by the polymers
C. the special particles can make its walls stronger
D. the intelligent sensor network can tell people where there is a crack
68. If the tremor-resistant home falls down, _______.
A. rescue work can be done more quickly and accurately
B. the intelligent sensor network will stop working
C. no one can be hurt in the earthquake
D. a warning signal will be given to other residents
69. What Prof Wilkins said suggests that _______.
A. he is doubtful about the project
B. he thinks the tremor-resistant home is perfectly designed
C. he is confident in the tremor-resistant home
D. the tremor-resistant home still needs to be tested in a real situation
70. It can be inferred from the passage that tremor-resistant home _______.
A. is still being tried out                                          B. is already under construction
C. has been in wide use                                     D. will be put into wide use soon


C
A school in Nanjing plans to order Korean-style school uniforms (校服) for students, but parents were against the move, believing that the new uniforms looked too good and would encourage early romances among the students.
Parents: “My daughter was so excited about the Korean-style uniform, saying it’s her dream to wear a miniskirt to school every day,” a mom said. “My daughter also called her classmates to talk about how handsome the boys looked in the uniforms! If the students wear such beautiful uniforms, how can they concentrate on their studies?”
School: We had to stop the plan because many parents were strongly against it. Some parents thought it was just a way for the school to make money, and others thought the new uniforms would take students’ attention away from their studies.
Students: The students were very disappointed about the school’s final decision. They thought the sportswear uniforms made them look dull. They said the Korean uniforms had many advantages such as raising interest in class and lifting confidence.
As for concerns about romance, the students believe that love is love and has no relationship to the uniforms.
The Department of Education: The schools can choose their own styles. Either sportswear or other uniforms are OK. Currently, most middle and elementary schools in Nanjing have sportswear uniforms.
Expert: Fashionable school uniforms can increase students’ interest in learning.
Parents don’t need to worry too much about early romances. Today’s primary and middle school students have strong personalities and their appreciation of beauty is rapidly forming. A fashionable uniform can develop their sense of belonging to the school and reduce their resistance to the school’s management.
But we don’t have to follow Korean or Japanese styles. We should design our own Chinese style uniforms.
63. Which of the following is NOT the parents’ reason for being against Korean-style school uniforms?
A. The uniforms will encourage early romances.
B. It is a way for the school to make money.
C. The new uniforms don’t wash well.
D. The new uniforms will affect the students’ studies.
64. Students think the new uniforms will________.
A. make them have good taste in fashion    B. make them feel confident
C. make them feel proud of their school     D. reduce their fear of teachers
65. The opinion of the expert is to________.
A. forbid the students to wear fashionable uniforms
B. encourage the students to wear sportswear uniforms
C. design uniforms in a Chinese style
D. wear new uniforms in a foreign style
66. We can infer from the passage that_________.
A. school uniforms are mostly blue or black
B. few students are willing to wear school uniforms
C. school uniforms are a waste of money
D. schools are encouraged to choose their own uniforms


C
A 17-year-old boy, caught sending text messages in class, was recently sent to the vice principal's office.The vice principal, Steve Gallagher, told the boy he needed to focus on the teach- er, not his cellphone.The boy listened politely and nodded, and that's when Mr.Gallagher noticed the student's fingers moving on his lap.He was texting while being scolded for texting."It was a subconscious act," says Mr.Gallagher, who took the phone away."Young people today are con-nected socially from the moment they open their eyes in the moming until they close their eyes at night. It's compulsive."
A study this year by psychology students at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga., found that the more time young people spend on Facebook, the more likely they are to have lower grades and weaker study habits. Heavy Facebook users show signs of being more sociable, but they are alsomore likely to be anxious, hostile or depressed.
Almost a quarter of today's teens check Facebook more than 10 times a day, according to a2009 survey by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group that monitors media's impact on families.Will these young people get rid of this habit once they enter the work force, or will employers cometo see texting and 'social-network checking' as accepted parts of the workday? Think bac.k.Whentoday's older workers were in their 20s, they might have taken a break on the job to call friends andmake after-work plans.In those earlier eras, companies discouraged non-business-related calls, and someone who made personal calls all day risked being fired. It was impossible to imagine the con-stant back-and-forth texting that defines interactions among young people today.Educators are alsobeing asked by parents, students and educational strategists to reconsider their rules."In past gen-erations, students got in trouble for passing notes in class.Now students are good at texting withtheir phones stiU in their pockets," says 40-year-old Mr.Gallagher, the vice principal,  ”and they're able to communicate with someone one floor down and three rows over.Students are just fun-amentally different today.They will take suspensions rather than give up their phones."
66.The underlined word“a subconscious act" in the first paragraph refers to an act______
A.on purpose                      B.without realization
C.in secret                       D.with care
67.Young people addicted to the use of Facebook______.
A.are good at dealing with the social relationships and concentrate on their study
B.have high spirits and positive attitudes towards their life and work
C.have been influenced mentally in the aspects of behaviors and habits
D.are always in bad mood and have poor performance in every respect
68.Through the situation of today's older workers in their 20s, it can be inferred that______.
A.the employers will not accept young people's sending text messages
B.a cellphone is a must for today's older workers instead of young people
C.the employers prefer older workers to young people
D.the employers will find it hard to control the interaction among young people
69. Mr. Gallagher reminds us that the students in the past and those today______.
A.like to break rules and have the same means of sending messages
B.are alwa)-s the big problem for the educators and their parents
C.like sending text messages but those today do it in a more secret and skillful way  
D.cannot live without a ceUphone
70.What's the best title of the passage?
A.Teenagers and CeLl.phones         B.Teenagers' Texting Addiction
C.Employers and Teenagers              D.Teenagers' Education    

The Happiest Cities On Earth

If you’re looking for a cheery destination for your next vacation, consider these four spots and get ready to take notes on how to really live the good life.

Singapore

    With one of the highest population densities(密度)in the world and residents known for being workaholics, it’s hard to imagine the city-state of Singapore having one of the happiest populations on earth. And yet in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were either very happy or quite happy.

They give their city high marks for cleanliness and safety—subways are pristine (洁净的) and unfailingly arrive on time, and police are seen as helpful and good at their jobs. What’s more, they feel they can count on their neighbours—all 5.1 million of them.

Arhus, Denmark

The residents of Arhus cheerfully part with 68% of their income in taxes, knowing that in return they will be guaranteed free healthcare, free daycare, and a top-notch (第一流的) education for their children.

An energetic city of 300,000 with a lively cultural scene and a diverse number of religions represented, the sense of equality (the range in incomes is narrow), as well as easy access to the nearby sea and surrounding countryside, make Arhus seem more like a small town.

San Luis Obispo, CA

According to a 2008 Gallup-Healthways study, people who live in San Luis Obispo are more likely than residents of other U.S. cities to smile and experience joy and are less likely to experience pain or depression. About 64,000 of the 260,000 people in the greater metropolitan area (都市区), located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, volunteer at over 11,000 non-profit organizations.

Few journeys to work are longer than 10 minutes (one reason its members rank in the upper third for job satisfaction), so “it’s easy to be involved,” resident Pierre Rademaker said. Business signs are unobtrusive (不显眼的) by law, fewer than 11% of residents smoke—the lower rate in the U.S.—there are lots of bike lanes, and the city’s plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What’s not to love?

Monterrey, Mexico

The people of Monterrey don’t enjoy high household incomes or access to good healthcare. Instead, there’s a profound sense of gratitude for the new political freedom enjoyed since the oppressive Institutional Revolutionary Party lost power in 2000—the first time in nearly a century—as well as an emphasis on social life over work.

Another reason Monterrey residents may be so happy is their faith in God and family, and their ability to tough it out through bad times.

“We laugh at sickness, poverty and even death,” says Basanez, a political scientist who lives in Monterrey. “We even have a holiday to celebrate death. November 2, the Day of the Dead, is one of the biggest holidays of the year.”

1.According to the passage, what do the residents in the four cities have in common?

A. All the residents can make great fortunes by working hard.

B. The residents there are mostly educators. 

C. All the residents enjoy enough material wealth.

D. The majority of the residents are satisfied with their current life.

2.According to the passage, we can infer that _______.

A. the people of Singapore expect their neighbours to come to their help when necessary

B. the people of Monterrey even observe one’s death on a special day of a year

C. the residents of Arhus happily pay 68% of their income for their children’s education fee

D. the people who live in San Luis Obispo have job satisfaction because they can enjoy good working conditions

3.According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A. The people of Monterrey didn’t enjoy political freedom until 2000.

B. The residents in Singapore feel happy because of its low population density.

C. The people of San Luis Obispo can enjoy free concerts in summer.

D. Arhus is handy to the seaside and countryside.

4.What can we learn from the underlined part “the sense of equality”?

A. The residents of Arhus have no racial discrimination.

B. Arhus is considered as a family sharing everything with each other.

C. There is no wide gap between the rich and the poor in Arhus.

D. The residents of Arhus can depend on their neighbours to help.

 

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